current levels of accessibility for blind and partially sighted people to cultural sites, events and activities

good practice

national legislation and policies for access to culture

The report makes recommendations for strategic and policy change at local, national and European levels to improve cultural accessibility; and the report supports advocacy and campaigning for the cultural rights of people with a (visual) disability and visually impaired people specifically

Results:Findings of the EBU Access to Culture Survey 2012 show that

article 30 of the UNCRPD on cultural rights is being poorly implemented

research about cultural accessibility by people with a disability is almost non-existent

cultural funding policies and practices discriminate against people with a disability (hundreds of billions of Euros of public money are spent on cultural activities which do not provide access)

there is good practice around, but the majority of cultural organisations do not do enough for cultural accessibility

disability rights legislation is necessary for progress in cultural accessibility

progress is not being monitored, although Council of Europe and EU member states have agreed policies that commit them to do so.

Conclusions and Recommendations/action:

The EBU ATC Survey shows that the right to culture is poorly implemented in Europe. Based on the information collected, EBU calls on stakeholders for urgent action with:

10 recommendations to local cultural organisationsto plan inclusively for people with a (visual) disability

6 recommendations tonational governments to put in place legislation and monitor progress and develop comprehensive strategic policies to bring about lasting improvements in cultural accessibility;

6 recommendations to the Council of Europeand European Union to develop monitoring tools and make a strategic contribution to implementing all relevant existing policies;

the specific request to the European Unionto specifically mention article 30 of UNCRPD in anyfuture Accessibility Act;

All stakeholders are to involve people with a (visual) disability and representative organisations at all stages of project, policy and strategy development (Nothing about us without us).

Impact/spin-off:The implementation of these recommendations will bring significant improvements of access to culture, not only for blind and partially sighted people, but also for persons with a disability in general.

Everyone is invited to contribute to an inclusive society in which the cultural rights of people with a disability are guaranteed.